Warning; disturbing images. Was this cat dumped to die in Riddings park?

Kevin Rogers

A dead cat found in a carrier bag may have been alive when it was dumped in woods in a Derbyshire park.

An RSPCA appeal has been made to find who dumped a cat which was found dead in a Tesco carrier bag yesterday (Sunday).

A dog-walker made the grim discovery when he was walking his dog in a wooded area in Riddings Community Park off West Street, Riddings, at about 8am when he saw the cat’s tail poking out of the plastic bag.

He alerted the RSPCA and inspector Kristy Ludlam was sent to the scene at 10am. She believes the cat may have still been alive when it was abandoned.

She said: “It is not completely clear at this stage if the cat was alive when it was dumped but there were some holes in the bag which may have suggested it was scratching to get out and rigor mortis had not set in.

“It would seem odd for an owner to simply dumped their own pet in this way if it had already died.

“Most people would bury their pets or have them cremated.

“We know the cat was not there the day before as the dog-walker who made the discovery said he did not see it when he walked through the same area on Saturday.”

The young cat was not microchipped and had no obvious signs of injury.

Inspector Ludlam is now appealing for anyone who saw someone acting suspiciously in the area with a Tesco bag between Saturday and Sunday to get in touch.

Anyone with information about who dumped the cat should call the RSPCA appeals line on 0300 123 8018.